Double-seamer



A. IOHNSON.

DOUBLE BEAMER. y APPucATloN FILED MAR. 24. 19|?.

' Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESS.

vl J. 0&7

' A TTORNE Y.'

lA. JOHNSON.

DOUBLE SEAMER.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 19H 1,349,837. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS lNr/EJvToR. n BY Qu@ J.

/ TTORNEY.

A. JOHNSON.

DOUBLE SEAMER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1917.

1,349,887, Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lilium l jg 5% 5460 WITNESS.

IN VENTOR.

JJQM

4L; A TTORNEY.

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. u

AXEL JOHNSON, OF OAKLANDpCALIFORNIA;AssisNon TO AMERiCAN CAN COMPANY, or sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom t may concern Be it'lnown that I, AXEL J oHNsoN, a citi-- zen'of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DoubleSeamers, of which the following is a specification.

T he present invention relates to a machine for'seaming ends to 'llanged can bodies, as, for example, cans used for the preservation of food products and other similar materials. l j

In machines of this type it is usual practice to seam the adjacent fianges oi' the can Y body and the end in two operations, for the reason that a suitable seam cannot be formed properly in one operation. The machines for this purpose have heretofore usually employed two rotating rolls for forming the seam, one roll foreach operation, and various means have been used for bringing the two rolls into operative relation with the `flange oi' the can to form the seam. Obviously, means must be provided `for adjusting the rolls relatively to the can to be seanied, and in machines employing two rolls for the production of a seam, each roll requires an adjustment of its own. Inasmuch as avery slight error in the adjust? ing of the rolls will result in an imperfect or leaky seam, it is highly desirable to reduce the chance for the occurrence of this error to a minimum. This done in `the present invention by using one roll for both seaming operations, Vsaid roll being pro vided with two adjacent grooves in its periphery, each groove adapted `tor performing one operation. In this case the roll need be adjusted but once for both operations, inasmuch as the relative positions of the two sea-ming grooves `formed therein do not change.

A further object of the invention is `to provide a machine which handles the `cans continuously, thereby avoiding thestopping and starting of its working parts and saving it 'from the strains and wear incident to intermittent` operation. And a further object is to prevent a very disagreeablefeature connected with machines having intermitf tent operation. W'here these machines are used in canning factories `tor closing filled cans. there is a great loss oi contents due to the starting and stopping of filled cans. The contents of the cans being more or less in a Specification Of Letters Patent.` j Patented Allg. 17, 1920.

Application filed March 24, 1917.` 'Serial No. 157,258. j

liquid condition, the sudden starting and stopping causes more or less spilling, which soils the cans and machine, and during a days run produces a very unsanitary and messy looking condition. spill unii'ormly, with the result that the uniiiorm work of the filling machines is more or less negatived through the unavoidable spillingby an intermittently moving closing machine. however, where the cansmove continuously in processional arrangement, and have their covers 'securely clamped on and double seemed thereto while they are continuing their forward movement, practically all loss from spillage is avoided. The cans Vand machines remain cleaner in operation, and a generally better and more satisfactory prod` uct is produced. Y

ln order to comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein Figure l is a plan view of themachine, showing the entrance belt, the feedingdisk and the main casing of the machine, the driving connection `to the spindles being shown in dotted lines within the casing.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the broken lines 2 2 oi Fig. 1,`of the drawings viewed in the direction of the arrows, excepting that the entire disk 28 is shown in section, and showing the arrangementof the seaming devices and the driving mechanism of the various working parts of the machine. j

Fig. 3 is a broken horizontal section taken in the direction of the arrows on the broken line 3 3 of Fig. 2 of the drawings, showing the chuck control mechanism. j

Fig. 4 is a broken horizontal section taken in the direction of the arrows on the broken line 1 -4 ofFig. 2 of the drawings, showing the seeming roll mechanism.

`Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 of the drawings, showing the path of travel of the cans throughthe machine, and the chucks and seeming rolls. u

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail view, en larged, Vof one of the seaming mechanisms, taken apjiirovimatelyv on the broken line 6 6 of Fig. 4 of the drawings, and viewed in the direction of the arrows. V

7. is a fragmental detail view, enlarged, of a seeming roll and a portionof All cans do not In the present type of machine,

the seaming chuck, showing a can and end in place beneath the chuck and illustrating the first seaming operation being 'performed upon the flanges ofthe can and end.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, illustrating the second seaming operation upon the flanges of the can and end.

-In the drawings, and referring particularly to Fig. 2 thereof, the reference numeral 1 designates a suitably constructed base, preferably tubular in form. This base is provided at itsupper end with an annular grooved flange 2 within which rests a horizontally disposed rotatable. ,turret plate Saidgturret plate is permanently connectedto, or asis here shown, formed integralwith a hub 4, the lower end of which extends'into the base 1 and carries therein ani annular gear ring` 5. Said gear ring mesh'eswith and is adapted to be driven by a smaller gear 6 fixed upon the upper end of ashort vertical sha-ft 7 journaled in one side of the base 1, andY carrying upon its lower end'a bevel gear 8. A similar bevel gear 9, adapted to mesh with said gear S, is .carried4 upon a horizontally disposed drive shaft 10, vjournaled in the base at l1 and carrying upon its outer end a pulley 12 for receiving power from an outside source, not shown in the drawings.V

.The basel supports an upwardly extending 'vertical' column 13, F ig. 2 of the drawings, uponwhich the hub t of the turret is journaled, as atV 14, and which supports, by means of. internal journals 15, a vertical shaft 1G, said shaft having at its lower end a bevel gear 17 adapted to 'mesh with and be driven by a similar. gear 18 mounted upon the drive shaft 10.V It will be seen from Fig. 2 of the drawings, that the turret 3 is rotated slowly by means of the gears Y5 and 6 and 8 and 9, and that the central shaft 16 is rotated more rapidly by means of its gears 17 and 1S.

The hub 4 of the turret carries at its upper end a head 19 over which is the housing 20. .l Said head and housing inc-lose the' variousdevices for operating the can chucks and the seaming rolls in a manner to be hereinafter described.

lA feed V:table V21-l*`igs. 1,V 2 and of the drawings, extends laterally and horizontally from the'base land is flush with the surface of thel vhorizontal turret Ytable 3. A conveyer, here shown as comprising a belt 22, running over a Vpulley 23, is provided. for bringingcan's Aonto said feed table. The cans,'which are designated by the numeral 24, are understood to Vhave ends 25 applied thereto -in preparation for seaming. Said c ans are guided, as brought in by the conveyer .beltl 22 by guide rails 26 and 27- Figs. 1 and 5 of the'drawings A can feed wheel 28, Figs. 1, 2A and 5, is mounted horizontallyvabove thepffeed table 21, upon a vertical shaft 29. Said shaft carries at its lower end a bevel-gear S50- Fig 2, adapted to mesh with a bevel-gear Ill mounted upon the end of the drive shaft 1l).

The can feed wheel 2S is formed with a.

`plurality of peripheral pockets R2, Figs. l.

2. and 5 of the drawings, adapted successively to engage and advanee the cans 2l as the same are brought into the sphere thereof by the feed belt 22. Said feed wheel acts as a timer to place the advancing cans in timed and spaced relation, the eireular portions 33 of said wheel serving as a guard for holding the can back as shown in Fig. 5 until the next following` pocket 32 engages and advances said can, as shown in Fig. l, of the drawings. rlhe cans are advanced successively by the pockets :l2 of the feed wheel 28 and are guided in their path of travel by a Curved extension l-lof the guiderail 2T. Said extension is backed by a spring 35, Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings`r so that in case a can becomes misplaced with respect to the pocket 32 of the feed wheel, it will not be crushed between said wheel and the guide rail The horizontal table 23 of the turret earries a plurality of freely rotatable can rests 36, Fig. 2 of the drawings. The cans as advanced in timed relation by the feed wheel 2S are deposited upon said rotatable rests. Fixed brackets 25T are provided behind said can rests 36 to insure the proper positioning of the cans thereupon. 'lhe head 10 of the turret carries, in vertical alinement with each can rest, a chuck spindle 3S. rotatable in said headand carrying upon its lower end a chuck $39 adapted to engage the end 25 of the can 2lsupported by its associated rotatable rest ilo. '.l`he upper end of said spindle 3S is hollow and is adapted to receive a shaft At0 which extends upwardly and is secured within the hub 41 of the gear 12, said gear having a bearing for its hub at i3 in the upper portion of the housing 20, and meshing with a larger gear it carried upon the upper end of the central shaft 16. The spindle 25S is adapted for axial sliding movement within its bearing in the head 1S) and for .similar movement with respect to the shaft A10, a key i5 being provided to transmit rotation from said shaft to said spindle. Thus it will be seen that the spindles are rotated at a comparatively high speed b v means of the central shaft 1G and the gears le!Y and l2,

rlie upper end of the ehuek spindle 3S carries a trunnion 4G. Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. A forked lever 15T is fulerumed upon a. bracket #1S iixcd to the turret head and has its forked ends connected with the trunnion 46. The other end of said lever carries a cam follower el?) adapted to lie within and follow an offset cam groove 50 formed i n the peripheral surface of a stationary cam mem amasar ber 5l, secured to the upper portion ofthe column 1?). Thus as the turret revolves about said column, the chuck carryingr spindles 25S are lowered and raised by the action of the cam groove 5l), to cause the chucks 39 to engage and release the can ends 25 at the proper times.

The turret head 19 carries a seaming head,

Figs. 2, 5 and (3 of the drawings, adjacent to each can end chuck Said seaming head is mounted upon the lower end of a spindle which is journaled for oscillatory and lineal. movement at 54, Fig. G of the drawings, in the head 1S), and which carries upon its upper end a transverse double arm 55, Figs. L and G ofthe dra-wings. 5i: id arm 55 carries upon its ends cam following rollers 5G and 57, the former below and the latter above said arm, and adapted to follow cams 5S and 59 respectively, formed upon the peripheral suriace oi lthe stationary cam member 51,. The 'function of said cam is to oscillate the seaming head 52 to bring the scanning roll G0, carried thereby into operative relation with the cam seam ina manner to be presently described. p

The seaming head spindle alsoearrics a cam followingroller 6l, Figs 2, 4L and 6, which is adapted to lie Within and follow an offset groove. (32 `formed in the stationary cainnlember 5l vbelow thegroove 50 and between the peripheral cams 58 and 59. Said cam groove 62 operates to raise and lower the scaming head, as will bepresently described.

The seaming head 52 is in the Jr'orm of a lever extending|` from the spindle 53, as shown in Figs. 5 and G oil the drawings, and

carries in its end the seaxning f roll 60, thel latter being freely rotatable upon a pin G3 Fig. 5 of the drawings. Said seaming roll is formed with two adjacent peripheral grooves GG and (37, Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings, the lower groove 66 performing the first operation upon `the can seam, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and the upper groove (57 performing the linalioperation thereon, as in Fig. 8 oi the drawings, y

In the seaming operation, the seaming head 52 is first oscillated by the cams 58 and 5) to bring the lower seaming groove G6 of `tbe roll. into engagement with the seam oilZ the rotating can for initially curling the saine. Theroll is then drawn radially with reinrence to the can chuck out of engagement with said seam and is lowered by means of the cam groove (32 to bring the second seaming groove` (37 into alinement with said seam, `and the head is then again oscillated to bring said roll into `engagement with said seam for the final operation thereupon. l l i In `the operatingr of the machine, the can 2i with'the. ends- 25 resting `thereuponare `tin-:rotore not illustrated.

brought into the sphere of action of the feed Wheel 28 by the conveyor belt 252 Without regard to time or space, and are picked up b v the pockets 32 of said feed wheel and advanced thereby in the proper timed and spaced relation lor positioning successively upon the rotatable can rests 36 of the turret plate 3. Immediately after the positioning of a `can 211 upon a can rest 36, the

chuck 3S) is brought downward by means of the cam groove 5() to clamp the can end 25 and the can 24: upon said rest. `Thecan chuck, it is understood, rotates eontinuouslv so that when the can is engaged thereby, said can is also caused to rotate. The seam is then formed :in the manner previously described,ithat is, first bythe action of the lower groove G6 of the rollGO and finally by the action of the upper-.groove (57 of said roll, the seaming head 521 beingoscillated and moved downwardly for this purpose, as described. After the completion of the seam, the seaming roll `is moved out of engagement therewith, and returned to its former upper position in readiness jto cause the lower seaming groove 6G to engage the seam of the next can placed `within the sphere thereof.

It is understood that the turret and its head are preferably rotated continuously,`

the cams being placed thereon at the position A, Fig. 5 of the drawings, andre- `moved therefrom,l at the position B, by

.ber of said .sets of mechanisxnlis not to be limited to four, but that any number thereof, consistent with structural practicability, may be. employe d;

`Itwll be seen from the foregoing description that butone adjustment need be provided for the seaming roll, :the means fori providing saidadjustment forming no part of the present invention, `and being On account of the Vconstant *relation :between the firs and `second..seaming grooves the sealning or hermetic sealingr will be perfectly formed by the one seaming" roll when properly zuljusted.` i

I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the pretererd .iorm of apiparatus hcreing .described and,.herewith illustrated, Jfor the reason that changes in theform and construction` oi' the working parts may be made therein, without delnartl 'mg from `the spirit of the invention. 0n

`the contrary, it isimy wish to be `linderstood as claiming the invention as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

lll)

Vlooselyl'applied covers Vto said seats, de-

vices associated with each seat Jfor clamping the said can and cover together, a seaming roll located adjacent each ot said can seats, each of said rolls being provided with a plurality of seaming grooves, and means for successively bringing the grooves of each roll and a can into operative rela- -tion whereby the can and end are united by a double seam. j 2. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination of. means 'tor successively 1 moving cans, having covers yloosely applied, in processional arrangement, a' vplurality of seaming rolls arranged in spaced relation along the path of said fcans, each of said rolls having a plurality of seaming grooves, and automatic means connected with said can-moving'means and Vcooperating for producing the movements of the rolls, for bringing the said cansand the grooves of said rolls successively into operative relation whereby the loosely applied covers are securely united to said cans by a double seam.

3. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination of means tor successively moving cans, having loosely applied covers, continuously in processional arrangement, a plurality ot' seaming rolls arranged in 'spaced relation along-the path traversed by said cans, each of said rolls having a plurality of seaming grooves, and automatic" means connected with said canmoving means and cooperating for producing the movements of the rolls, for bringing the -grooves of said rolls successively into operative relation with advancing cans, whereby the loosely applied covers are securely unitedtofsaid cans by a double seam. VLAn apparatus or'the described purpose,- comprising the 'combination ot' means forV continuously moving cans having loosely applied covers in processional arrangiremen'al plurality of seamingv rolls arranged along the pathtraversed by said cans,jeach ot' saidrolls having a plurality of seaming grooves, andv means Jfor successivelyV bringing'the grooves of each roll into operative relationl with a continuously mov- -ing can whereby the loosely applied covers `aresecurely united to'said cans by an interlocking seam. l 1

5. An apparatus` for the described purpose, comprising the combination of means for continuously moving cans having loosely applied covers in processione] :irrangement, a plurality ot seaniing rolls arranged along the path traversed by said cans, each ot said rolls having a Y"plurality of seaming grooves, and means tor successively bringing the grooves of each roll into operative relation with a continuously Inoving can whereby the loosely applied covers are securely united to said cans by an interlocking seam, together with means l'or securely holding` said cans and covers while in operative relation with said rolls.

6. lnan appa `atus 'l'or the described purpose, a rotatable turret. devices carried thereby tor holding a llanged can and :in end to be seamed thereto, mechanism tor rotating said holdingdevices and said can and end, a seaming roll having l'ormed therein a plurality ot seaming grooves. and mechanism carried b v said turret and actuated by the rotation thereoil tor moving said seaming roll to bring the grooves thereof successively into engagement with the ilange ot said can tor the seaming ot the end thereto.

'7. ln an apparatus tor the described purpose, a` continuously rotating turret, devices carried thereby tor holding a` tianged can and an end to be seamed thereto, mechanism for continuously rotating said holding devices and said can end, a seaniing roll carried by said head, said roll having termed therein a, plurality oi' scaniing grooves, and mechanism carried by said turret and actuated by the rotation thcreo'l for moving said seaming head radially and raxially with respect to said can to bring said seaming grooves successively into engagement with thc liange ot said can tor the seaming ot the end thereot.

8. In a machine tor the described purpose, a rotatable turret, a` freely rotatable can rest carried thereby and adapted to hold a flanged can having an end resting thereupon, a. vertically movable and rotatable chuck adapted to engage said can end. mechanism for rotating` said chuck.y devices carried by said turret and actuated b v the rotation thereof tor moving said chuck into and out ot engagement. with said can end. a seaming head carried by said turret adjacent to the flange ot said can. a. seaming roll carried by said head, said roll having formed in its periphery a plurality oi' seaming grooves, and mechanism carried by said turret and actuated by the rotation thereot for moving said seaming head axially and radially with respect to said can vfor bringing the seaming grooves ot said roll into engagement successively with the flange ot said can for the sealning ot the end thereto.

9. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination With a horizontally rotating member provided with a plurality oi rotatingcan seats, means for deliveringr successively to said seats flanged cans with ends loosely applied thereto, devices associated with each seat for holding the can and end clamped thereto, an axially and radially movable seaming,l roll provided with a plurality of peripheral seaming grooves and means for moving said seamingjT roll to place the seeming grooves thereof into engagement successivelyV with the ange of the held can for the double seaming of the end thereto.

10. In a can closing machine having,lr

means for advancing the cans and covers continuously, the combination therewith of double grooved seamin {l rolls Whieh are movable vertically and horizontally, and in, engagement with covered cans on saidadvancing means, and means connected with said advancingr means for moving said rolls vertically and horizontally to perform two searningr ope ations In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of a subscribingr witness.

AXEL JOI-l'NSON. Vitness:

N. A. ACKER. 

